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Am J Perinatol 2022; 39(06): 683-690
DOI: 10.1055/a-1673-0708
Original Article

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Well-Baby Nursery

Prabhakar Kocherlakota 
1   Department of Pediatrics, Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital, Newburgh, New York
2   The Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Maria Ferrari Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York
,
Lin Lin
1   Department of Pediatrics, Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital, Newburgh, New York
,
Harsangeet Gill
1   Department of Pediatrics, Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital, Newburgh, New York
,
Janice Joseph
1   Department of Pediatrics, Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital, Newburgh, New York
,
Leandra Trydal
1   Department of Pediatrics, Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital, Newburgh, New York
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Funding None.
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Abstract

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is associated with fewer deliveries and premature births; however, the impact of this pandemic on the well-baby nursery (WBN) is unknown.

Objective The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on infants admitted to the WBN by comparing pandemic and pre-pandemic cohorts.

Study Design We performed a retrospective study of infants admitted to a WBN during the pandemic period (March 18, 2020 to March 17, 2021) and compared them to those during the pre-pandemic period (March 18, 2019 to March 17, 2020). Maternal (age, parity, gestation, method of delivery, and COVID-19 status) and neonatal (sex, weight, Apgar score, feeding pattern, urine toxicology, and neonatal intensive care unit [NICU] admission) data were collected and compared between the two periods. The results were statistically analyzed, and significance was set at p <0.05.

Results There were 824 and 859 WBN admissions during the pandemic and pre-pandemic periods, respectively, a 4% decrease in WBN admissions during the pandemic period. During the pandemic period, the number of deliveries among nulliparous women increased (From 40.3% to 45.1% p = 0.01), and deliveries among multiparous women decreased (From 59.2% to 53.1% p = 0.01). The number of infants exposed to marijuana in utero increased (From 8.2% to 16.1% p = 0.035), and transfers from WBN to NICU decreased (From 9% to 6.3% p = 0.044) during the pandemic period.

Conclusion Compared with the pre-pandemic period, the number of WBN admissions, multiparous deliveries, and NICU admissions decreased, while the number of nulliparous deliveries and infants exposed to marijuana in-utero increased during the pandemic period.

Key Points

  • COVID-19 Pandemic is associated with decreased number of deliveries, preterm births, and NICU admissions.

  • We observed decreased admissions to WBN, deliveries by multiparous women, and transfers from WBN.

  • More nulliparous women delivered, and more infants were exposed to marijuana in-utero during the Pandemic.

Keywords

COVID-19 pandemic - well-baby nursery - nulliparous women - multiparous women - admissions - neonatal intensive care unit

Authors’ Contribution

P.K. conceptualized and designed the study, and drafted, reviewed, and revised the manuscript. L.L., H.G., J.J., and L.T. were involved in the study design, monitoring, and collection of the data. All authors reviewed and revised the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 01 August 2021

Accepted: 07 October 2021

Accepted Manuscript online:
19 October 2021

Article published online:
17 December 2021

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